heyyy, it's maddy and i'd like to share with you guys a true story from overnight camp about bullying, harrassment, and friendship (like the title says lol) so, start off this story on tuesday. i met this girl on tuesday morning, call her frankie. we bonded and clicked so quickly it was like we had known each other our whole lives. we both told each other most of our secrets, because we were both in the same boat in school. (practically no friends, trust issues because of betrayal, and a guy best friend). she's bi, but refers to herself as gay, and i'm omni/heteroflexible (basically mostly straight with preference). she eventually started complaining to me about a girl in her cabin, call her leena. she told me leena would constantly ask her questions about me and her being friends, saying "oh, i know you like maddy" and other awful things just because she's gay. leena was doing this to another girl in the cabin as well, who had said nothing about her sexuality. for a little bit of backstory, leena was like the self entitled, pretty, thinks she's the best, homophobic, popular girl. eventually, by thursday, the harrassment in frankie's cabin got so bad that leena literally asked me, while frankie and i were walking together, holding hands (platonically obv) what my sexuality was "so, maddy, are you gay, straight, bi?" i said straight just to simplify it so i wasn't technically lying and rushed ahead with frankie cause obv leena made me rly uncomfy. that night before we went back to the cabins, frankie and i finally made the decision to ask my counselor if she could come stay in our cabin. more backstory, the camp director comes around at 10PM every night to make sure everyone is in their cabins and lights are out. she's very strict on these rules. foreshadowing. so, since we knew my counselor would say yes, we explained the situation to her, and of course she said yes, but that we would have to talk to frankie's counselor first. we talked to her as well, and she profusely apologized for not noticing, and said "if mj (the other girl getting harrassed by leena) is closeted, imagine the weight all this puts on her." and frankie's counselor said yes too, but she would have to talk to her cabin first and scold them. so my counselor, me, frankie, and her counselor all went back to frankie's cabin and frankie's counselor and my counselor went into frankie's cabin to talk to the girls (after my counselor and i checked with our cit to make sure all the other girls in my cabin were good) frankie and i, not wanting to hear it, stayed outside. after frankie's counselor determined the other girl getting harrassed and the harrasser, she brought them both outside so all of us were outside. frankie's counselor began to talk to them again, and that's when the camp director came around, and when the nightmare really started. she asked why we were out after 10, asked why two cabins were mixed, and before we could explain anything, she sent me and my counselor away from frankie and her cabin. this literally broke my heart. i couldn't stand her being with those awful girls. i told my counselor this, and her and i consulted the cit (while everyone was being worried that something was wrong but we couldn't tell them) and my friend was having a panic attack, so while i was crying i had to comfort her and tell her that i was fine because it would be too hard to explain. we considered taking her after 10:30, but frankie's cabin would tell on her. so eventually i just sat on the floor crying, with my friend and my counselor's arms around me. the best, most meaningful hug of my life followed that night, after me and my friend had dropped off our stuff, i saw frankie and we ran to each other. we couldn't contact each other, obv. we ran to each other and hugged, so tight, knowing that both of us were safe and loved each other no matter what. i will never forget the tears that blurred my eyes when the camp director sent us away, that final touch of my hand to hers, watching her sad eyes follow me until i inevitably had to go into my cabin, the hug that followed that awful night. the entire situation was awful and so messed up, and anyone struggling with homophobia and/or harrassment, please please reach out to someone. talk to an adult. a friend. anyone. just please... don't struggle alone. i love you, and remember that i am always available if you want to talk about anyone. i may not give the best advice, but i will be with you no matter what. love, maddy if you're seeing this, "frankie", i love you. no matter what. never forget that.
